Nottingham Forest’s fight against relegation stayed tense as Sean Dyche’s side drew 0-0 with Wolves, despite heavy pressure and a huge shot count. The result kept Forest on 27 points, four ahead of Wolves, but also left Forest only narrowly above 18th-placed West Ham in a crowded lower section of the Premier League table.
Forest’s fixture list now turns difficult, with Liverpool, Brighton and Manchester City next in the league. Dyche stressed that players must respond under pressure during this stretch, especially after missing a chance to create breathing space. The manager pointed to effort and structure, but accepted that the team again failed to seize a key opportunity.
Dyche did not hide frustration after Forest dominated territory and chances
but still finished level with the bottom club. Forest recorded 35 attempts, the most by any team without scoring in a Premier League match since Manchester United’s 38 efforts in a 0-0 draw with Burnley in October 2016, yet still could not beat Wolves goalkeeper Jose Sa.
Forest also enjoyed 62.9% of possession and controlled long spells, continuing an awkward trend for Dyche. This was the 10th Premier League game in which a Dyche team held at least 60% of the ball. None of those matches ended in victory, with four draws and six defeats across those possession-heavy outings.
Dyche’s overhaul of Forest remains incomplete despite improved recent results. The side have lost only once in six league matches, which would usually signal progress. However, given Forest’s position near the bottom three, that sequence is not viewed as a strong run, particularly when chances to move clear are repeatedly missed.
Asked about the performance and the pressure around the club’s situation, Dyche gave a lengthy assessment of Forest’s issues in attack and mentality during tense home games. "Very frustrated, of course. Knock on the door but find a moment of clarity. It was one of those. They set their stall out early to come and defend and look for breaks," Dyche said. "It is very frustrating to dominate a game like that, with so many chances.and there were plenty of good chances, but its finding that killer moment. The crowd get nervy, the team get nervy, there is a lot of pressure on these games. A lot of the performances are right, but you have to score a goal, obviously. That is the hardest thing for us as managers and coaches, for someone to find that defining moment. There were a few very strong chances. The start was good. We were opening them up. When teams are fully flowing, finding that last pass, making that run, they all seem to come together quickly. When it is not quite there, people start snatching at shots and crosses and the crowd get on top quickly. This is part and parcel of the Premier League. There is no lack of effort or commitment, it is just finding those moments. We can't rely on others. Finding the key moments is the frustration. One loss in six is usually a good run, but in the position we are in, it is not classed as a good run. Every time we get a chance to push forward and clear the decks, we dont quite deliver those moments. It is a work in progress. I am not out there playing. It is about trying to get the team to find that confidence amidst the noise and the freedom to go and play. When the hard times come, we have to go and deliver. "
The numbers underlined how much Forest controlled the contest, especially before half-time. Forest produced 16 shots in the opening 45 minutes. Only Manchester United, who had 17 attempts against Bournemouth in December, have created more first-half efforts in a Premier League match during this season’s campaign.
Morgan Gibbs-White missed one of the clearest openings, heading into the side netting from close range when well placed. Later, Forest broke with six attackers against one defender, but Lorenzo Lucca lifted a powerful chance over the bar, further adding to the sense that the home side lacked calm in vital moments.
Midfielder Elliot Anderson delivered an all-round display, even as Forest failed to score. Anderson had the joint most shots for Forest with seven and also led the side for passes completed with 78. Anderson topped several other key metrics, including 22 line-breaking passes, nine duels won, nine ball recoveries and five tackles.
Anderson backed Dyche’s view that the team were short of composure in front of goal, while pointing to positive aspects. "We just weren’t clinical. We had a lot of the ball and just tried to break down the back five, got some good balls into the box but not clinical enough," Anderson told TNT Sports. "It just hasn’t clicked today, but I couldn’t fault the energy of the lads. It’s really disappointing, especially at home. Three points was what we wanted, but we didn’t lose, so look at the positives there. "
| Statistic | Nottingham Forest | Wolves |
|---|---|---|
| Goals | 0 | 0 |
| Shots | 35 | Fewer than Forest |
| First-half shots | 16 | Lower total |
| Possession | 62.9% | 37.1% |
| Sa saves | N/A | 10 |
Nottingham Forest vs Wolves Premier League draw boosts visitors slightly
For Wolves, the point offered modest encouragement in a difficult season. This draw moved them to nine points and halted a damaging defensive trend. Wolves ended a run of 14 consecutive Premier League away matches without a clean sheet, earning their first goalless draw on the road since January 2024 at Brighton.
Wolves almost claimed a late winner despite Forest’s dominance. Deep into second-half stoppage time, Mateus Mane broke forward during a swift counter-attack and struck on goal. Stefan Ortega reacted sharply in the Forest goal, pushing the effort away and preserving a single point for both teams in the closing seconds.
Head coach Edwards criticised Wolves’ early display but felt the result was fair given the response after the interval. "I know we had a couple of moments, but I think it would have been unjust had we lost. In the first half we were as bad as we have been. We kept giving the ball away. After a few words at half-time, I thought we showed spirit and character in the second half. "
Sa’s performance stood out statistically and historically for Wolves. The goalkeeper made 10 saves, becoming only the fourth Wolves keeper to reach double figures in a Premier League game. The previous instances were Paul Jones against Middlesbrough in 2004 with 10, Wayne Hennessey versus Liverpool in 2012 with 10 and Sa himself with 11 against Liverpool in 2024.
Much of the discussion around Wolves’ campaign has centred on Derby County’s record low tally of 11 points in the 2007-08 Premier League season. Sa acknowledged pride in the clean sheet but made clear that avoiding such an unwanted landmark remained a major motivation inside the dressing room across the run-in.
Sa expressed mixed emotions after the match, pleased with personal performance yet aware of the wider picture. "I’m proud that I didn’t concede and helped my team to one point. We still believe, but everyone knows it’s going to be difficult," Sa said. On wanting to surpass Derby’s points total, Sa added: "Of course, of course. I don’t want this type of record. "
The goalless draw left Forest regretting missed opportunities and Wolves grateful for defensive resilience. Forest entered a demanding sequence of fixtures still searching for the "killer moment" Dyche described, while Wolves gained a small lift from resilience and Sa’s display, but remained some distance from safety in the Premier League standings.
